Fuse for projectiles.



PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

J. L. BROWN. v FUSE FOR PROJEOTILES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21,1903. RENEWED MAY 9,1905.

jkmes L UNTTED STATES Patented June 6, 1905.

PATENT @EETCE.

JAMES L. BROWN, OF IN DIANHEAD, MARYLAND. ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIVERSAL ORDNANCE AND POWDER (10., WASHINGTON, DIS-,

TRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FUSE FOR PROJECTILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,873, dated June 6, 1905. Application filed November 21, 1902. Renewed May 9, 1905. Serial No. 259,624.

To all, whom. 1' t may con/(writ.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES L. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianhead, in the county of Charles and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuses for Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved fuse for projectiles, and has special reference to a fuse adapted to be used upon explosive projectiles, and is adapted to cause the explosion of the explosive therein a short time after the projectile contacts an object, so as to not cause the same to explode before entering the object, but after it has nearly passed through the object.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel construction of fuse for explosive projectiles which under ordinary circumstances is held in safety position by a novel means which when placed in the gun and after the discharge of the gun the backward shock or the blow of discharge on the base of the projectile causes the firing-pin to set back, rcleasing the safety means, which is thrown out by centrifugal force, so as to give free access of the firing-pin to the percussion-cap, which is exploded by means of a loosely-mounted spherical plunger, which is thrown forward to contact the firing-pin as the projectile is impeded in its forward movement by contact with any object, thus causing the explosion of the projectile shortly after such contact, the time being regulated by the distance the looselymounted spherical plunger has to travel after the projectile strikes.

To attain these objects, the invention consists of novel features of construction and combination of parts, substantially as set forth and claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the base end part of a projectilc with myfuse shown in section with its parts at safety. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the fuse in the position it assumes when the projectile is traveling. 3 is a similar view with the parts of the fuse in the position they assume after the projectile-has struck the object. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the fuse, said Fig. 4 showing more particularly the safety device for holding the firing-pin away from the cap Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the firing-pin.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the threaded casing in the butt of the projectile, in which is adapted to be secured by means of screw-threads the fuse B. The fuse consists, substantially, of the tubular casing- 1, provided with the sealing-cap 2, which provides the cylindrical chamber 3, in which is loosely mounted a spherical hammer or plunger 4.

Adapted to fit within the upper end of the casing and be held by means of the lugs 5 is the cylindrical plug 6, which is provided with a central channel 7 and a plate 8, in which is provided a small opening 9, the fulminating capsocket 10, and the upper portion 11 of the channel 7, in which is adapted to loosely fit the firing-pin 12, which is adapted to strike the fulminating-cap 13.

Pivotally mounted at one end in the grooves 14 of the plug are the two segmental arms or wings 15, which are provided upon their lower inner edges with the segmental grooves 16, which are adapted when the fuse is at safet 1 to receive the rim of the cup 17, carried intermcdiate of the ends of the firing-pin. Resting upon the interior shoulder 3 of the cylindrical chamber 3 is a circular disk 19, provided with a central opening through which is adapt ed to project the stem 20 of the firing-pin, a coil-spring 18 surrounding the stem within the disk 19 and a cup 17 of the firing-pin, so as to normally exert a tension against the upper face of the disk 19 to cause the cup 17 to be normally held in engagement with the groove 16 of the arms or wings 15.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that while the projectile is at rest the parts of the fuse assume the position shown in Fig. 1; but'as soon, as the gun is discharged the force thereof causes the firing-pin of the fuse of the projectile to slightly compress the spring 18, thus moving and releasing the cup from the grooves of the wings 15, so that the lowing the firing-pin to have access to the fulminating-cap. As soon as the projectile contacts the object the spherical plunger is caused to move forward in the chamber of the tubular casing and by such impedance of the projectile is thrust against the end of the stem 20 of the firing-pin, causing the firing-pin to contact the fulminating-cap of the projectile and explode the projectile long enough after the contact of the projectile to allow the same to pass through the armor plate. It will thus be seen that the fuse for projectiles is provided which is readily applicable to the projectiles now in use and which will at all times cause the explosion of the projectile shortly after contact notwithstanding at what angle the projectile contacts the object, as the loosely-mounted spherical plunger will always be given a movement which will strike the firing-pin.

What I claim as new is-- 1. In a fuse, the combination of a socketed casing, a fulminating-cap, means for explod- .ing the fulminating-cap, automatically-open ated means for holding the said exploding means from contact with the fulminating-cap, and a spring for holding the said exploding means in engagement with said automaticallyoperated means, adapted to be compressed or set back, due to the firing of the-gun to release the exploding means from engagement with the automatically-operated means.

2. In a fuse, the combination of a socket-ed casing, a fulminating-cap, means for exploding the fulminating-cap, centrifugally-operated means for holding the said exploding means from contact with the fulminating-cap, and a spring for holding the said exploding means in engagement with said centrifugallyoperated means, adapted to be compressed or set back, due to the firing of the gun to release the exploding means from engagement with the centrifugally-operated means.

3. In a fuse the combination of a fulrninating-cap, firing-pin, separate means for striking the firing pin, automatically operated means locking the firing-pin against forward motion, and means on said firing-pin causing the firing-pin to engage the automaticallyoperated means to lock said automaticallyoperated means until the firing-pin releases the automatically-operated means when oper ated upon by the setback due to the firing the gun.

4. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a plunger mounted therein so as to be capable of acting forwardly upon lateral impact, a fulminating-cap, a firing-pin, automatically-operated means locking the firing-pin against forward motion, and means on said firing-pin locking said automatically operated means until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

5. In a fuse, the combination of a fulminating-cap, a firing-pin, separate means for striking the firing pin, centrifugally operated means locking the firing-pin against forward motion, and means on said firing-pin causing til released by the setback due to the firing of j the gun.

7. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a loosely-mounted spherical plunger mounted therein, a fulminating-cap, a firing-pin, centrifugally-operated means locking the firingpin against forward motion, and means on said firing-pin locking said centrifugally-op erated means until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

8. In a fuse the combination of a casing, a plunger mounted therein so as to be capable of acting forwardly upon lateral impact, a ful- .minatingcap, a firing-pin, centrifugally-operated means adapted tobe engaged by the fir-' ing-pin to form a lock against the movement of said means, said centrifugally-operated means preventing the forward motion of the firing-pin, and means mounted on the firingpin for holding the firing-pin in locked engagement with the centrifugally operated means, the firing-pin releasing the centrifu gally-operated means by the setback dueto the firing of the gun.

9. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a loosely-mounted plunger mounted therein, a fulminating-cap, a firing-pin, eentrifugally operated means adapted to be engaged by the 'firingspin to form a lock against the movement of said means, said centrifugally-operated means preventing the forward motion of the firing-pin, and means mounted on the firingpin for holding the firing-pin in locked 'position with the centrifugally-operated means, the firing-pin releasing the centrifugally-operated means by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

10. In afuse, the combination of a casing, a loosely-mounted spherical plunger mounted therein, a fulminating-cap, a firing-pin, centrifugally-operated means adapted to be engaged by the firing-pin to form a lock against the movement of said means, said centri ugally-operated means preventing the forward motion of the firing-pin, and means mounted ted means, the firing-pin being operated to release the centrifugally-operated means by the setback due to the firingof the gun.

11. In a fuse the combination of a casing, a plunger mounted therein so as to be capable of'acting forwardly upon lateral impact of the fuse, a plug mounted in one end of the casing, afulminatingpap mounted in the plug, a firing-pin mounted in the plug, centrifugallyoperated means locking the firing-pin against forward movement in the plug, and means on the firing-pin locking the centrifugally-operated means until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

12. in a fuse, the combination of a casing, plunger loosely mounted therein so as to be capable of acting forwardly upon lateral impact, a plug mounted in one end of the casing, a fulmiuating-cap mounted in theplug, a firing-pin mounted in the plug, centrifugallyoperated means locking the tiring-pin against forward movement in the plug, and means on J the firing-pin locking the centrifugally-operated means until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

l3. In a fuse, the combination of a'casing, a plunger mounted therein so as to be capable of acting forwardly upon lateral impact, a plug mounted in one end of the casing provided with a central channel therethrough, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug in one end of said channel, a firing-pin slidably -mounted Within said channel, centrifugallyoperated means mounted in the plug adapted to block said channel so as to lock the firingpin against forward motion and means on said tiring-pin for locking the said centrifugallyoperated means until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun. 1

14. In afuse, the combination of a casing, a plunger mounted therein so to be capable of acting forwardly rpon lateral impact, a plug mounted in one end of the casing provided with a central channel thcrcthrough, a fulminating cap mounted in the plug in one end of said channel, firing-pin slidabiy mounted within said channel, a pair of centrifugally-opr:rated wings mounted in the plug adapted to obstruct the channel thereof, and locking the liring-pin against forward motion, and means on said firing-pin for locking said wings until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

15. in a fuse, the combination of a casing, a plunger mminted therein so as to be capable of acting forwardly upon lateral impact, a plug mounted in one end of the casing provided with a central channel thcrcthrough, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug in one .cnd of said channel, a firing-pin slidably mounted within said channel, a pair of centrilugally-opcrated wings mounted in the plug adapted to obstruct the channel thereof and locking the firing-pin against forward.

motion, and means on said firing-pin engaging andlocking said wings, said pin being adapted to release the same when operated by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

16. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a

plunger mounted therein so as to be capable of acting forwardly upon lateral impact, a plug mounted in one end of the casing provided with a central channel therethrough, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug in one end of said channel, a firing-pin slidably mounted within said channel, centrifugallyoperated means mounted in' the plug adapted to block the channel so as to lock the firingpin against forward motion, and a spring mounted on said firing-pin for holding the liring-pin so as to lock said centrifugally-operated means until the pin is retracted by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

' 17. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a plunger loosely mounted therein, a plug provided with a central channel mounted in said casing, a fulminating-cap in the plug, a firingpin slidably mounted within said channel and provided with a cup-shaped enlargement in- I the plug adapted to obstruct said channel and provided with recesses, a firing-pin slidably mounted in said channel of the plug and provided with. a cup-shapedenlargement adapted to engage the recesses of the wings to hold the wings in an obstructing position, the said wings locking the tiring-pin against forward motion, and means mounted on the liring-pin for holding the cup-shaped enlargement in the recesses of the wings and adapted to yield when the liring-pinis retracted by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

19. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a loosely-mounted plunger therein, a plug provided with a central channel mounted in one end of said casing, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug, a pair of wings mounted in the plug adapted to obstruct the channel and provided with recesses, a firing-pin slidably mounted in said channel of the plug and pro vided with a cup-shaped enlargement adapted to engage the recesses of the wings to hold the wings in obstructing position, the said wings locking the firing-pin against forward motion, and a spring mounted on the firingpin for holding the cup-shaped enlargement in the recesses of the wings and yielding to the setback due to the firing of the gun.

20. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a loosely-mounted spherical plunger therein, a plug mounted in one end of the casing provided with a central channel therethrough, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug in one end of said channel, a pair of wings mounted in the plug adapted to obstruct the channel thereof, a firing-pin slidably mounted within said channel, means carried by the firing-pin to lock the wings,,and a spring mounted on said firing-pin for holding the locking means of firing-pin in engagement with the wings so as to lock said wings, the spring being retracted and the firingpin moved rearward to release the wings, said action being caused by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

21. In a fuse, the combination of acasing, a plunger loosely mounted therein, a plug mounted in one end of the casing provided with a central channel therethrough, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug in one end of said channel, centrifugally-operated means mounted in the plug adapted to block the channel, a firing-pin slidably mounted within said channel, means on the firing-pin to lock the centrifugally-operated means, and aspring mounted on said locking means of firing-pin for holding the firing-pin in engagement with the centrifugally-operated means so as to lock said means until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

22. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a loosely-mounted spherical plunger therein, a plug provided with a central channel mounted in said casing, a fulminating-cap in the plug, a firing-pin slidably mounted within said channel and provided with a cup-shaped enlarge: ment intermediate ofits length, centrifugallyoperated means mounted in the plug locking the firing-pin against forward motion, and means mounted on the firing-pin for holding said cup-shaped enlargement in engagement with the centrifugally-operated means to lock said means said cup-shaped enlargement being disengaged from the centrifugally-operated means by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

23. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a loosely-mounted spherical plunger therein, a plug provided with a central channel Irmuted in one end of said casing, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug, a pair of wings mounted in the plug adapted to obstruct said channel and provided with recesses, a firing-pin slidably mounted in said channel of the plug and provided with a cup-shaped enlargement adapted to engage the recesses of the wings to hold the wings in obstructing position, the said wings locking the firing-pin against forward motion and means mounted on the firingpin for holding the cup-shaped enlargement in the recesses of the wings, said firing-pin rel-- leasing the cup-shaped enlargement from the recesses of the wings by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

24. In a fuse, the combination of acasing, a loosely-mounted spherical plunger therein, a plug provided with a central channel mounted in one end of said casing, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug, a pair of wings mounted in the plug adapted to obstruct the channel and provided with recesses, a firing-pin slidably mounted in said channel of the plug and provided with a cupshaped enlargement adapted to engage the recesses ofthe wings to hold the wings in obstructing position, the

said wings locking the firing-pin against forward motion, and a spring mounted in the firing-pin for holding the cup-shaped enlargement in the recesses of the wings, said firingpin releasing the cup shaped enlargement from the recesses of the wings by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

25. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a loosely-mounted plunger therein capable of acting forwardly upon lateral impact, a plug mounted in one end of said casing provided with a central channel, a fulminatingcap mounted in the plug, a disk mounted in the casing and held in place by the plug and provided with a central opening in alinement with the channel of the plug, a firing-pin slidably mounted in the channel of the plug and guided in its movement by the disk, centrifu; gally-operated' means mounted in the plug for locking the firing-pin against forward motion and means on said firing-pin within the channel of the plug lock-ing said centrifugally operated means until released by the setback due to the firing of'the gun.

26. In at'use, the combination of a casing, 21 loosely-mounted spherical plunger mounted therein, a plug mounted in one end of said casing provided with a central channel, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug, a disk mounted in the casing and held in place by the plug and provided with a central opening in alinement with the channel of the plug, a firingpin slidably mounted in the channel of the plug and guided in its movement by the disk, centrifLigally-operated means mounted in the \plug for locking the firing-pin against forward motion, and means on said firing-pin within the channelof the plug locking said centrifugally-operated means until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.-

27. In afuse, the combination of acasing, a. loosely-mounted spherical plunger therein, a plug mounted in one endof said casing provided with a central channel,a fulminating' cap mounted in the plug, a disk mounted in the casing and held in place by the plug and provided with a central opening in alinement with the channel of the plug, afiring-pin slid-' ably mounted in the channel of the plug, and guided in its movement by the disk, a pair of wings pivotally mounted ed to be-operated by centrifugal force, said wings being adapted to lock the firing-pin against forward movement, and means on said firing-pin within the channel of the plug for locking the wings until released by the setback due to the firing of thegun.

28. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a plunger mounted therein so as to be capable of acting forwardly upon lateral impact, a plug mounted in one end of said casing provided with a central channel, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug, a disk mounted in the casing and held in place by the plug and provided with acentral opening in alinement with the channel of the plug, a firing-pin slidably mounted in the/channel of the plug and guided in its movement by the disk, a pair of wings 1 ed in the open end thereof and provided with acentral channel, a circular disk mounted in the casing and held in place by the plug, said disk being provided with an opening in line with the central opening of the plug, a fulminating-cap mounted in the plug, a pair of wings pivoted within the plug adapted to obstruct the central channel, a firing-pin slidably mounted within the central channel of the plug guided in its movement by the opening of the disk, said wings being arranged to lock the firing-pin against forward motion, and means on the firing-pin for locking said wings until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

30. In a fuse, the combination of a casing having one open end, a loosely-mounted spherical plunger in the casing, a plug mounted in Y the open end thereof and provided with a central channel, a circular disk mounted in the in said plug adapt pivoted within the casing and held in place by the plug, said disk 5 being provided with an opening in line with. the central opening of the plug, apair of wings pivoted within the plug adaptedto obstruct the central channel, a

mounted within the'central channel of the plug and guided in its movement by the opening of the disk, said wings means on the firing-pin for locking said wings until released by the setback due to the firing J of the gun.

31. In a fuse, the combination of a casing having one open end, a loosely mounted spherical plunger in thevcasing, a plug mounted in the open end thereof-and provided with a central channel, a circular disk mounted in the casing and held in place by the plug, said'disk being provided with an opening in line with the central opening of the plug, a pair of wings plug adapted 'to obstruct the central channel, a firing pin slidably mounted within the central channel of the plug and guided in its movement by the opening of the disk, said wings being arranged to lock the firing pin against forward motion, a cupshaped enlargement carried by the firing-pin intermediate of its length adapted to engage and lock the said wings, and a spring mounted upon the firing-pin adapted to engage the said enlargement and the circular disk so as to hold the enlargement in locked position with relation to the wings, the cup-shaped enlargement being released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

32. In a fuse, the combination of a casing, a loosely-mounted plunger therein capable of" acting forwardly upon lateral impact, a fulmicentrifugally-oper' nating cap, a firing-pin, ated means locking the tiring-pin against for- Ward motion, and means for locking said cen trifugally-operated means until released by the setback due to the firing of the gun.

I In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. BROWN. \Vitnesses: 1 T. BLAIR SHOEMAKER,

DAVID P. Moons.

firing -'pin slidably being arranged to lock 7 the firing-pin against forward motion, and 

